TF1 Signs World Cup TV Rights Deal for 2002 and 2006 with Kirch

KirchMedia GmbH & Co. KGaA, owner of the worldwide television rights to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan and the 2006 World Cup in Germany, has reached agreement with the commercial French television operator TF1 on sale of the exclusive television rights to the 2002 FIFA World Cup for broadcasting on its channels TF1, LCI and Eurosport France.

TF1 will be acquiring full television rights to the 2002 World Cup and the rights to 24 games during the 2006 com-petition, including all games involving the French national team, the opening game, the semifinals and the final. In addition, TF1 has also been granted an option to acquire further television rights to the FIFA World Cup in 2006. TF1 is to pay €168 million for the rights purchase.

Dr. Alexander Liegl, Managing Director Sports Rights of KirchMedia said, ‘We are very pleased to have closed this deal in another key European market. It is the first time that the television rights to the World Cup have been licensed exclusively to one operator in France.’

The broadcasting rights to the FIFA World Cup in 2002 have now been awarded for 20 countries in Europe as well as the greater part of Asia, including the host countries Korea and Japan, Central and South America and Af-rica, including South Africa. For the USA, an agreement has been signed for the Spanish-language rights and negotiations on the English-language rights are at a very advanced stage.

For further information please contact:
KirchMedia GmbH & Co. KGaA
Hartmut Schultz
Corporate Spokesman
Telephone: +49 (0) 170 4332 832
hartmut.schultz@kirchgruppe.de